What term describes America250, the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence?

America250 is the United States Semiquincentennial.

The word “semiquincentennial” describes a 250th anniversary. “Quincentennial” refers to 500 years, while “semi-” means half, so the combined term literally indicates half of 500 years. The anniversary marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776.

The event is also known by less commonly used names, including the Bisesquicentennial, Sestercentennial, and Quarter Millennium. America250 is the shorter public-facing name used for the national celebration and its organizing commission.

The term is easy to confuse with “bicentennial,” which means 200 years and described the 1976 anniversary, or “tricentennial,” which means 300 years and will describe the 2076 anniversary. Semiquincentennial is the precise term for the 2026 commemoration.